AFTER police and prosecutors waited 75 days before reporting Lorcan Halton's escape - calls were made for more action to be taken to protect the innocent instead of the guilty.

Police only issued this shot of Lorcan Halton 75 days after he went on the run

POLICE have revealed that a dangerous sex offender is on the run – almost three months after he vanished.

Lorcan Halton, 45, failed to turn up for a court appearance on January 15.

Investigations later revealed he boarded a Belfast-bound ferry in Cairnryan on January 9 and hasn’t been seen since.

But yesterday, police and prosecutors refused to reveal details of Halton’s crimes or say why he was due in court.

Labour
justice spokesman Graeme Pearson said last night: “I simply don’t understand why Police Scotland are so reluctant to tell the public about
prisoners who are on the run.

“Instead of trying to hush up these escapes, they should be more upfront when mistakes are made.

“The names and pictures of these criminals should be published as quickly as possible.”

Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said: “The individual could be on the other side of the world
by now. The public are always enthusiastic to help in appeals like this
but we don’t make it easy for them by leaving it so long.”

Detective
Inspector Craig Willison said: “I would ask anyone who has seen Mr Halton, or who has any information regarding his whereabouts, to contact
Police Scotland. I would advise that no one approaches him, but rather
contact police immediately.”

Asked
why police took so long to alert the public, Willison said: “When a registered sex offender goes missing there is a set procedure that must be followed.

“All lines of inquiry have to be exhausted in the first instance before the publication of any image.

“We
believe that Lorcan Halton travelled to Ireland on January 9 and officers have been liaising with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and carrying out extensive inquiries to trace him.

“We have now come to a stage where every line of inquiry has been exhausted.

“Following
close consultation with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service,
and with due consideration to the subject’s right to a fair trial, it is now considered appropriate to release his image.”

Halton,
from the Saracen area of Glasgow, is white, 6ft tall and of medium build with brown hair and a distinctive scar on his right arm.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.